Athens is a vibrant city with so much to offer that it can sometimes make you dizzy! Discovering its countless historical and cultural treasures is often the main part of a tourist getaway. But what abouta longer stay in the Greek capital? How do you go through the looking glass and experience Athens like a local? Whether you’re on vacation in Greece or living in Athens, discover our 6 tips to make you feel right at home!
1 – Stroll the streets of Plaka and Monastiraki
It’s in the heart of Athens that you’ll best feel the city’s pulse. To soak up the soul of the capital, it all starts here! The show starts in the afternoon, just behind the Monastiraki metro station. On the program: street dancing and live music (when the mood strikes!) among the passers-by frequenting the neighborhood’s countless stores.
Monastiraki is a vast open-air market. In its typical alleyways, antique and objets d’art stores rub shoulders with food outlets and gadget stalls of all kinds. If you’re a crowd-pleaser, you’re in for a treat!
Fancy a good coffee? Just cross Ermou Street to discover the picturesque Psiri district, with its cafeterias, bars and tavernas. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, head to the other side, to Plaka. Its pretty cobbled streets, although touristy, are ideal for a little city stroll!
2 – Enjoy a real Greek meal in a taverna
Want to eat like a local in Athens? Let go of that industrial sandwich and discover the warm, authentic atmosphere of Greek taverns! Sit down in the shade in any establishment where you hear Greek spoken: you’re very unlikely to go wrong. Here, let the magic happen: baked eggplant, smoked souvlaki, fleshy black olives, fresh fish, grilled octopus and creamy tzatziki… a festival of delights awaits your taste buds!
Are you lost for words when you look at the menu? Opt for a mezze! All these culinary wonders will be brought together on different small plates to share. If you’re a vegetarian, don’t worry: you can enjoya wide choice of fresh vegetables and legumes cooked in olive oil and aromatic herbs. This is what the locals eat during the fast that precedes Easter in Greece!
3 – Go out at night where the Athenians go
You don’t want to spend your evening in a tourist spot? You’re right: real life lies elsewhere! Go where the Athenians go out and discover the Greek capital’s nightlife:
- Dine and dance in the trendy neighborhoods of Gazi and Keramikos. This is where young Athenians go to enjoy the taverns and raki bars and listen to music until the end of the night.
- Discover the bohemian, alternative district of Exarchia. It’s the place to be if you like alternative bars, jazz and rock concerts and small eateries.
- Treat yourself to a meal of grilled meat in a traditional tavern on Mount Parnitha, just a few minutes’ drive from the center of Athens. After your meal, take a stroll under the fir trees for a breath of fresh air before heading back to the city center.
- Venture by metro to the neighborhoods of Petralona, Panormou and Chalandri for a lively evening among the locals. Do you have a car? Drive to Glyfada or Kifissia. You’ll find a wide selection of pleasant cafés where you can enjoy homemade treats!
4 – Shop in Athens like a local
To stock up on Greek delicacies, forget the tourist traps! Do your shopping in Athens like a local: you’ll see that the Greek capital is teeming with high-quality food shops. Some have even become veritable institutions!
- Fancy Kalamata olives, gherkins and capers? Go to Ariana, behind the central market. This family-run business has over a century of experience, so you can go there with your eyes closed! Their address: Theatrou 3, in the historic center.
- In need of herbs and spices? You’re in luck: Evripidiou Street (especially number 37), which runs alongside the central market, is entirely devoted to these natural products. Stroll through it with your nose to the wind, and its enchanting aromas will whet your appetite!
- A little honey or tahini to sweeten your Greek recipes? Kolios, on Athinas Street in Psiri, is the place to be! Their impressive range of artisanal Greek honey will make your mouth water.
- Fancy a real Greek coffee? In Athens, coffee is no joke! The Loumidis roaster in Omonia Square has been earning the trust of locals since 1910.
- Shopping at the locals markets in Athens is a true delight: you can find beautiful, fresh fruits and vegetables at affordable prices. Most of the time, it’s the producers themselves who sell their products, loudly praising the quality of their goods! Of course, there is the central market on Athinas Street, and in each neighborhood of Athens, a farmers’ market is held once a week from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Here are some addresses close to the city center:
- Tuesday : Votanikos market, Aimou street, Keramikos metro station
- Wednesday : Kato Petralona market, Pandorou street, Petralona metro station
- Friday : Ilissia market, Dioharous street, Evangelismos metro station
5 – Take a nature bath on Mount Ymittos
Where do Athenians go at weekends to get some height and enjoy nature? On Mount Ymittos, to the east of the Greek capital! On the mountainside, the Kesariani forest is a well-kept secret among the inhabitants of Athens. Yet this protected nature reserve is only a 15-minute cab ride from the city center!
Put on your sneakers and don’t forget your water bottle: you’re about to discover a wooded paradise dotted with olive groves, medieval ruins and monasteries. Take one of the many hiking trails that criss-cross this 1,026-meter-high mountain. If you make it to the top, you’ll be almost 7 times higher than the Acropolis in Athens! But don’t worry: a simple stroll to the top will give you splendid views of the city and the sea.
6 – Discover the picturesque port of Piraeus
Yes, the port of Piraeus isn’t just a huge transit point for catching a ferry to the Greek islands: it’s also a holiday resort for Athenians! But you still need to know where to go to enjoy the charms of the seaside, away from the crowds of hurried travelers.
Mikrolimano, just a short cab ride from downtown Athens, is where locals come to enjoy se afood on sunny days. This delightful little arched port offers a foretaste of the Aegean islands, with its poetic, contemplative calm. In the background, the Kastella hill promises a breathtaking view of the Saronic Gulf. Take advantage of your visit to admire the yachts in the elegant Zea Marina!
Now you can discover Athens like a local. We hope you enjoy discovering the Greek capital!
Here are a few articles to complete your visit to Athens as a local:
- Athens and its unusual experiences
- A long weekend in Athens: complete program and good addresses
- Finally, if you would like to be accompanied, we recommend a number of guided tours
group or individual tours.
Sandra B.
